Geneva football opens up with comfortable win

AURORA – A combination of efficient offensive playmaking and big defensive stops gave Geneva a 41-23 victory over West Aurora Saturday.

The Vikings made maximum use of the 48 plays they ran, 12 fewer than the Blackhawks, scoring on six of their nine possessions.

On defense, a fumble recovery, an interception and a denied fourth down conversion halted West Aurora drives.

The teams played Saturday as their Friday night season opener was postponed by the weather.

Time ran out on Geneva before it could complete the last series of the first half, but the team only punted twice, both times in the fourth quarter.

Mike Huck made the first defensive stop when he recovered a West Aurora fumble at Geneva’s 27-yard line in the second quarter with Geneva holding only a 14-3 lead.

Justin Taormina picked off a pass from Blackhawk quarterback Johnathon Doyle to derail West Aurora’s opening drive of the second half. On the Blackhawks' next series, the Geneva defense held as the Blackhawks tried to convert on a fourth-and-2.

Two of the three ground TDs were scored in the third quarter when Geneva broke open the game. The Vikings crossed the goal line three times in the period, allowing the Vikings to widen their halftime lead of 20-9 to 41-9.

“The team emphasis [today] was being able to run the ball in the middle of the game when we needed to,” Wicinski said. “I challenged the offensive line and for the most part they responded.”

The Blackhawks actually outgained the Vikings, 405-357.

“We did some good things” said Eimer about his team’s first game as member of the Upstate Eight Conference's Valley Division. “We’ve just got to find ways to not start on our side of the 50-yard line all the time.”